Clover Blog

DOINGS

I can't believe that I just blew away my entire post....one of these days I will learn to use the computer properly!!  I have just about finished the Jojoland lace scarf and have only a few more motiffs to add before finishing the blocking process.  It has been a joy to work this pattern into the amazing finished product.  The dying of the yarn makes the blocks work up a different color so it really is a no brainer.  Just wish my computer was as easy to manage! The hardest part of this scarf is going to be standing in line at the post office to mail it.  Guess I will just take along a pair of socks to work on.  There are several pair of socks in the works positioned all over the house and one pair in the car.  I never want to sit down and not have something to work on.  Do you think I border on obsession???  I'm pretty sure, by the looks of my work room, that I am a borderline hoarder of fabric and yarn.  Or....doe that just make me an avid quilter and knitter? 

You can see the color distribution in th blocks.  I hope you will give this pattern a try...a lot of bang for a little effort.

This pattern, using larger needles, would be perfect to make an afghan using up all my left over worsted weight yarns.  Maybe that's a project I can start over the holidays.  I try and organzie my work room over the holiday break in preparation for the next years travel/show schedule.  I doubt I will have any trouble finding yarns to work this up with...the two outside rows could be worked in black and the inside swirl pattern in whatever yarn I have available...the new granny square!  I will let you know how that works.

The other project keepeing me busy is the Stained Glass Bubble Scarf by Rainy Day Knits.  If you haven't heard of this creative young designer check her site out... Rainy Day Knits.com ...Once the scarf is finished I am going to make the hat to go along with it.  A Christmas gift for next year.  I have FINALLY figured out that to finish by the holidays I have to start now.  I may be slow but I am a happy knitter!  Jen Hurley, designer for Rainy Day Knits, has just made available a sock pattern to go along with the hat and scarf and don't you know...I have the pattern and am dying to start on those georgeous socks.

This pattern shows up in a picture better if you are using brighter colors but I didn't think my son would like a hot pink and purple combination so stuck to neutrals.

This pattern is just such fun to work I want to make one in every color way I can find.  I will still be working on them when I move into the "home".

Check out the new category I have added.  Bill Gardner is our guest contributor this month.  I would like to have a "blog blurb" monthly from people out there that love the hand crafts so look for the new posts.

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"Life is not a spectacle or a feast; it is a predicament."

George Santayana

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Holiday Guests

Hi everyone. Fran was kind enough to share her blog space with me so I could share some holiday memories. By the way, I work closely with Fran as Clover’s Communications Consultant.

            On to those memories. This time of year always reminds me of the gifts my grandmother so lovingly created for the entire family. She loved to crochet and would spend hours and hours each day making mittens, scarves, afghans, and sweaters for her sons, daughter, their spouses, and all the grandchildren. Perhaps my favorite gift of all was the beer can hat she made me when I was in college! You would have had to know my grandmother to realize how special that gift was. She didn’t drink alcohol, but she knew I wanted one of those hats. I must have seen one in a magazine and commented on it, though I truly don’t recall. I do know she collected beer cans from my uncle, rinsed them and cut them, then punched holes in them and crocheted them together. I wonder whatever happened to that hat.

            Then there’s the sweater I still have. I refuse to let it go. She made it about 30 years ago and for some reason it doesn’t fit anymore. Oh well, it must have shrunk over the years.

            Perhaps the most amazing year was when she decided to quilt for everyone. Daughter and daughters-in-law received completed quilts while the grandchildren all received quilt tops. All hand stitched. Three completed quilts and eight quilt tops. All completed in a year’s time. And did I mention they were all hand stitched?! I wish I knew my quilt patterns so I could better describe mine, but it’s all made with little octagon pieces of fabric. And I mean little. I’ve never had the quilt finished, but it’s still safely tucked away.

            I loved receiving those gifts and always cherished them.

            About 29 years ago I began working in this business we call arts and crafts and began attending trade shows. One year needlepunch was all the rage and I took a class so I could familiarize myself with it. We did a simple flower design and I think I did a pretty darn good job. So, I framed it and gave it to grandma for Christmas that year. I still remember the look on her face. She was delighted and there may have been a tear in her eye. She immediately placed it on the table next to her rocker where she often sat working on her crochet while she looked out the window and watched the world pass by. That piece of “art” never left that table. And that made me happy.

            May your handmade gifts bring the same joy to your family and friends. And may they cherish them always and remember them as fondly as I do mine.

-- contributed by Bill Gardner

Tips and Tidbits

Over the past few months I have had a few e-mails regarding the Chaco Liner not coming out of the fabric when used to mark quilts.  The Chaco Liner was originally made to mark patterns where seams and darts would be sewn, hiding the mark from the outside of the garment.  It's a wax base product like the Tailors Chalk.

Clover has many marking pens/pencils that are designed to use for marking quilts:       

                        White Marking Pen (for dark fabrics) #517

                        Water Soluble Marker (Fine) # 515  (pink)

                        Water Soluble Marker (Thick) #516 (blue)

                        Chacopen pink with Eraser (air erasable) #5012

                        Chacopen Blue with Eraser (water soluble) # 5013

(Both the Chacopens have a convenient Erasure for immediate erasure of unwanted marks)

                        Water Soluble Pencils  #5000 White

                                                          #5001  Blue

                                                          #5002  Pink

                        Water Soluble Pencils (1 each color) # 5003

Give one of the above products a try when next marking your quilts.

                                        

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FUSIBLE WEB

            

Another question that has popped up recently isregarding the Fusible Web not sticking so Carol and I tested it.  Of course I ripped it out of the package and applied it with my bias tape maker and low and behold – it didn’t stick. CAROL, on the other hand, actually read the instructions!  Now there is a novel concept!!  The directions clearly state to use a medium to low heat setting on your iron when applying and guess what – IT WORKS!!!  So, for all of you out there like me – read the instructions if you are having trouble with the Fusible Web adhering.  The instructions also state to let the tape cool once applied.

 

Any questions or problems?  Just email me and I will find the answer for you.

 

CLOVER EVENTS

 

December is considered down time for the Clover Girls but in truth we are constantly working on something or preparing for the next Trade Show.  In January we will be traveling to Long Beach, Ca for the National Needlework Association (TNNA) show which features yarns and all yarn related products as well as the needlepoint and cross stitch products.  It is always fun to see all the new knitting and crocheting patterns and can’t live without yarns.  We will travel to Anaheim, CA for the Craft Hobby Association (CHA) which features a lot of scrapbooking, soft crafts, needlecrafts, home deck, fabrics and all the wonderful things a crafter or hobby enthusiast would use.

The TNNA and CHA shows are trade only and closed to the public, however, in conjunction with CHA, there will be a Craft Super Show which is open to the public.  This takes place January 22-23, and Clover will be there !  So if you're in the area, come to the show and make a project with us.  We'd love to see you there!

DOINGS

WOW!  Thanksgiving is over and now I'm working off all that good food.  I really shouldlearn to knit while walking on the treadmill...guess I could get a stationary bike and knit as i pedal.  I hope all of you had a wonderful time with your friends and family.  My family continues to grow which is a blessing but the dining room isn't growing along with the family.  I need an old fashioned farm house that is all kitchen and dining room.

    Now that we have one holiday down and a few weeks before the next one comes along I've been working with determination to get those handmade Christmas gifts finished and ready to ship off.

    I love the way my Jojoland scarf is working up.  Thanks to the coloration of the Melody yarn by Jojoland it looks like i have put a lot more work into the scarf than I have.  THANKS JOjOLAND YARNS!  i am nearly finished with the Cable Scarf I have been working on using Lion Brands Fisherman's wool yarn for the guys on my list.

JoJoland /Melody Yarn Shawl / Scarf

    The past month has been spent learning to work with the new products Clover will be introducing in January, making models to represent those products and writing instructions for the project sheets representing those products.  There has been little time for much else but now I can turn my attention to some projects I've wanted to work on for awhile now.

    Carol Porter ( our Education Director) made a great scarf that really intrigued me so now that I have some free time, I'm excited to start my own.  Its the Stained Glass Bubble Scarf and Hat pattern by Rainy Day Knits.  With very little effort an amazing pattern is produced.  I can see working up several of these scarf and hat combo's for gifts......wonder if we will see a mitten pattern by this unique company to complete the set!

  
                  FROM L-R: Hat, Scarf, Front & Back of Bubble Stitch

The scarf is knit in the round, making a tube and Clover's 9" circular needles works beautifully with this pattern.  For those of you not wanting to deal with the double pointed needles give the 9" circulars a try.  I love making socks on the 9" circulars when I'm not using Clover's 48" circulars and working two socks at the same time!

Takumi 9" Circular Needles

I will keep you posted on my progress with the Bubble Scarf.

I would love to see pictures of your projects and hear your stories so feel free to write and send along a picture of the little lbit of magic you are creating.

DOINGS

Fall is here in the Northwest and our foggy, cool mornings are just perfect for a cup of coffee and some time to play with Clover's new products. The past week has kept me busy working with two of our new Yo-Yo templates -- the Butterfly and the Shamrock. It took me a time or two to get my "groove" but before long I was whipping out butterflies and puffy little shamrocks with the best of them.

Each butterfly takes on its own personality when the little antennae (floral stamen) are attached.  They're perfect for embellishments on pillows, bags, clothing -- wherever your imagination takes you these cute little butterflies will make the journey fun and enchanting. I found they work well with all lightweight materials and the chiffon's and organdy give them a little magic.

The Shamrocks are going to be fun to use in so many ways. Combine them with the circular Yo-Yos to make new flower combinations. They also lend themselves to embellishments with some wow power, like great lapel pins for St. Patrick's day. The instructions for both these new Yo-Yo templates are clear and easy to follow BUT, for all of you out there like myself who feel you can make the Yo-Yo without reading the instructions, READ THE INSTRUCTIONS and then FOLLOW the instructions and you will have perfect Butterflies and perfect Shamrocks.

     Look for the Shamrock and Butterfly templates in
     your favorite store mid to late October

                                                                                                                                                       

                                                                                                                                                      

SOFT TOUCH THREAD PIC

For all you hand quilters and long arm quilters Clover has a new product that will be available in November so ask your favorite shop how soon they'll have it! The Soft Touch Thread Pic is a tool with a fine hook on the end that allows the threads to be pulled through to the center of the quilt and "hidden" from view.  It will be a must in your tool basket! Those who have tested this product absolutely love it and comment that it saves time as they don't have to thread a needle and work it through -- just pick up the Thread Pic and slide between the layers, catching the thread and pulling it to the center. Quick and easy.

                                                                                                                                                               

NEWSLETTER

The first issue of Clover News will be delivered to computer in boxes the last week in September! This new electronic newsletter brings you information on the newest Clover products as their introduced, as well as a wealth of other information including my favorite tools, questions & answers, what your fellow needle workers are doing with Clover products, creating for a cause, and so much more. To subscribe, to go out web site and sign up for the e-mail newsletter at the bottom of the home page.

         

CLOVER GIRLS

When you see all the beautiful projects made with Clover's great products, you may not realize the great deal of behind-the-scenes work that goes into them.I though you might like to see just how hard we Clover Girls work to show what amazing things can be made ... especially with the Sweetheart Rose Maker.

Beckie Hansen is working hard....no, that's not a fabric rose in her hands.

Carol Porter and I live in the Washington-Oregon area. Beckie Hansen moved last year from Washington to Indiana but has a beautiful home on Washington's coast, where we all met one weekend to combine efforts on the projects.

Carol is enjoying her break just as much as Beckie ... while I continue to work away ... ha!

I hope you enjoy seeing some of the great projects we came up with to represent this versatile product. 

We'd love to see some of the things you've made with the Sweetheart Rose Maker, so send me a pic and we'll share your hard work with our readers.

 The girls said if their pictures are on the blog I had to include one of me. Since we were working on a bridal theme I thought I'd try on some of the items.

Only your imagination will limit what you can make with this product! We see so many garments decorated with fabric roses these days and the Sweetheart Rose Maker allows you to customize the colors.

All these models are featured on the Clover web site. Check them out. Who knows when you might need bridal items! 

OUT and ABOUT

I just returned from humid and sunny Orlando, Florida and the Craft and Hobby Association show (CHA).
It is always fun and energizing to see the creativity at the trade shows I am fortunate to be a part of with the Clover Company.  This show was filled with scrap-booking booths showing the latest and greatest gadgets for making your life a beautiful, creative memory.  Of course, yarn was there and that is one of my addictions so I was a happy knitter.  Beads, ribbons, soft craft items, toy companies ( got one great Christmas gift) and many of the other items you would find in your local craft and hobby stores. 

  
  At the two day consumer show Clover had great
    make it and take it projects for the attendees
    The two projects offered were a great             luggage marker using the Wonder Knitter and
    PomPom Maker and an adorable lapel pin
    featuring the Bow Maker and the YoYo Maker.

    As you can see they were standing in line to
    work with these tools and go home with some
    great projects.

    We were thrilled to see many young people         and delighted in teaching them the crafts.   
    It is the young people that will carry our crafts
    into the future.
The lines were long for the make-it and take-it projects we had.  Everyone got involved, even the guys!

One of our Clover Girls, Alicia Salazar was kept busy helping the many young people that attended the 2 day festival.

  

   Carol Porter, another Clover Girl and Director

   and Director of Education along with Judy

   Garcia, Asst. Marketing Director took a quick

    breather and let me get their picture.

   

DOINGS

Ahhhhh! Summer has finally made its appearance and my world is loving it.  When the sun shines in the Northwest those of us living here head to the mountains or the beaches.  Being that the ocean is cold here my family heads to the mountains or to Eastern Washington where it is hot and a lot like Kansas.
Recently my husband, John, and I took a day trip to the peninsula and visited Hurricane Ridge in the Olympic National Park.  It was breathtaking with the wildflowers just starting to bloom and we were blessed with a family of deer that were not at all bothered by us taking pictures.

The Olympics draw visitors from early summer until late fall when the first snow fall blocks the road into the observation area.  There are no roads into the mountains and it is a popular place for backpackers and serious hikers.

 

It never fails that we see "wildlife" when we visit the park.  Always there are deer but sometimes we are blessed with sightings of mother black bear and one or two cubs.  This visit it was deer.  The different birds are a joy to sit and watch while munching our sandwiches and taking in the sights.

Mount Olympus is the higher peak in the range and is always willing to share its beauty with those making the trip.  I live in one of the more beautiful states in our great nation and am blessed with its beauty on a daily basis....when the sun shines!! 

While making the drive to the park I was busy making "flowers" on Clover's new Hana Ami Loom.   There will be many models for this new product that I will be showing in the days to come.  The model I am working on is a shawl in shades of purple.  The thing I am most enjoying about this project is that I get to crochet the flowers together.  Fine crochet is my first love and the design I am using to finish the flower lets me enjoy both the simplicity of the loom flower and the beauty of the crochet I love to work. 

     This flower is being finished with a round that's a bit more fancy.

      While this flower has been finished with a simple chain stitch

      around.

The loom comes with 6 shapes/sizes which allows the user to make projects with different looks using materials that work best with the shape and size.  The Clover Girls have enjoyed using yarn, ribbon, crochet threads and raffia to create flowers and projects.  I would enjoy seeing some of the projects you come up with using this great little tool so please send some pictures of your projects I can share with our readers.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:  Welcome life's changing winds, for change can be a miraculous gift.

Doings

Hi Everyone! No, I didn't fall over the edge thought I came very close a time or two since the last entry.  It is finally summer here in the Northwest and I am loving it!  We had a long winter and the sun and heat feels great.  A friend once said the sun heals the spirit.  I totally agree.
The last posting was from Paducah and the amazing AQS quilt show held there every year.  We had a letter from a concerned reader voicing the opinion that I was being disrespectful of the quilt makers by not listing names, etc. for each quilt.  I sincerely apologize if anyone felt slighted by my not listing names.  There simply is not room or time to do that for all the quilts I had to share.  I am not going to post the remainder of the quilt pictures taken at Paducah as I do not want to hurt anyones feelings. 
As a quilter that enjoys the traditional methods of hand pieceing the traditional patterns and hand quilting i fully understand and appreciate the time and effort that goes into a finished quilt.  No slight was intended.
       
A 45 minute drive north of us is the Skaget Valley where the tulips grow.  Swans and Snow Geese winter there.  the white you see on the ground are Swans and the mountain in the background is MT Baker.  it is a beautiful area and one we love to drive to on a sunny day.  This picture is taken from a wildlife refuge where Eagles nest. We were fortunate this day to see a nesting pair of Eagles...what an amazing sight.
    We have been busy at Clover getting ready to present our new products.  Quilt market, in Pittsburg, PA, was really fun.  The convention center is right on the river and each day as we walked the 4 blocks to and from the center we could see the activities on the river and the many bridges.  It was fun to walk around our hotel and see the breathtaking old buildings.  Being from Washington State it is always a jolt to go to realize the history of the eastern part of the US.  I would have loved knowing the history of some of those buildings.
    At Quilt Market we introduced the Sweetheart Rose Maker and Bow Maker,

demonstrated our new quilting notions along with the Dimensional template with a new project sheet for a Christmas tree shaped advent calendar using the dimensional squares.  It demonstrates how to use the dimensional squares in quilt piecing.  Check out the Clover Website...... www.clover-usa.com ..... for the pattern.

    We are preparing for the TNNA (The National Needlework Association) in Columbus, OH the weekend of the 14th.  This show features all things knitting, crocheting and needlepoint.  One of my loves, cross stitch, is also a big part of this show.  It kicks my creative energies into high gear and i want to come home with every new yarn and pattern I see.  Unfortunately there is little time to sit and just knit these days but every so often I sneak off to my work room and lovingly touch all my yarn and leaf through the patterns.  ahhhhh!! one day i will retire and then watch out grandchildren, you will EACH be wearing a grann original! 
    Following quickly on the shirt tail of TNNA comes CHA (Craft and Hobby Association) where we see a lot of crafting items, scrapbooking and any an all that is somehow connected with that....walk into a Michaels, or Joann's and anything in those stores will be at this market trade show. It is another time of wanting to take most everything home and play with it experience.  I will be sending picture back and tales of the fun and excitement.  In February Paris Hilton was at the show promoting her line of scrapbook papers....yes, America, Paris has entered the world of scrapbooking...right along with Marie Osmond.
    It is a good time of life and spending time with my grandchildren is a blessing.  I was with our youngest grandchild, Garret, age 5, when he shared that he was sad because his pet catipillar died.  I showed the appropriate emotion until he told me that he had been giving the catipillar swimming lessons when it died.  At age 5 I guess he doesn't get the humor in that statement because he was a little miffed at "granny" when I started laughing hysterically.  Oh! the wonder of a 5-year olds mind.  He also announced that now that he was 5 he should be allowed to make more important decisions for the family.  His 15 yr old brother told him he had to wait a while until he could do that and after a moment of pondering this new information he ask if that would be "10".  No, Shayd replied, 18!  Garret got a shocked look on his face and put his hands on his hips and said, OH MY GOSH!! I Will never make it that old.  Just wait little one!
    I hope your summer is shaping up to be a wonderful, craft filled time.  Teach someone to knit, crochet, sew or whatever it is that is near and dear to your heart.

    I recently saw the following and hold it to be true:

BE YOURSELF, EVERYONE ELSE IS TAKEN.

Till next time!

Doings

Hey Everyone, gee, sorry the posting went south, so to speak.  i had added pictures of quilts but was having computer problems in KY...maybe it was computer operator problems but whichever the pictures didn't display.  I will continue adding the quilt pictures and hope you will enjoy them.

This beautiful duster was made by joining the main squares with beautiful silk yoyo's.  I would like to think the seamstress used Clover's Yo-yo Maker rather than making all those yoyo's by hand the old fashioned way.

 

As you can see my photography isn't the best sometimes but this shot does show the yoyo's.  Look at the beautiful quilting on the main squares.

This quilt was breathtaking.  The hand work is amazing so i took a close up of one small section so you could see the expertise of this quilter.

 I wanted to rush out and start an applique project when I saw this quilt.  I will add some more pictures of the quilts and one of the Best of Show.  The designer is from Australia...quilters like this AND Hugh Jackman...wow...what more could a country ask for??